Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-15
THE FREE BRIDGE.

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Col. Hain's Report ON the Aqueduct.
THE PRESENT BRIDGE UNSAFE AND pANGERous-A
NEW BRIDGE PUBLIC NEcEssrTY-rHE PLAN OF
REcoNsTRuCTToN-AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION
NEEDED.
Col. p C. Hains has submitted to the chief OF
engineers plan for the reconstruction OF the
Aqueduct bridge, which has been referred to the
Secretary OF War. He states that after paying
sl25.oo0 for the present structure, and retaining
$4,000 for condemning the northern abutment
and securing the right OF way, there remains
S1Oo. o.OO0 available for the reconstruction OF the
bridge. The bridge has been examined several
times In the last year. he says, and the testimony
OF all d1sinterested parties is that the present
structure is unsafe, is continually deteriorating
structed of more permanent material and with
more convenient roadway. This also seems to
De the object OF the appropriation. In re-
constructing the bridge, he continues, the width
81 81 ,es aoW snG ,ns1 ought s,o, to be not less than
not less than six feet each. This gives SO feet as
the least width Of the bridge that win satisfy the
aemanas ta & OF the public It Is proper to call atten:
span, by means OF which large vessels may passit
There Is good water front above the bridge on
the District side that could be made available for
commerce, and besides, the river itself is naviga-
Die Tor large vessels as FAR up as Chain bridge. In
n previous report Col Hains says, he called atten-
t1on to the fact that the Aqueduct bridge inter-
feres with the free and safe navigation OF the Poto-
mac river, ana that the proper way to remedy the
evil is to provide draw Tor the bridge. Now, that
the government Is about to reconstruct the same,
1t would seem only proper that this hindrance to
che free navigation or such river as the Potomac
should be removed.
THE MOST SUITABLE PLAN
for draw would be to widen the abutment pier
nearest the Virginia side of the river and place on
1t a turn-table draw. A cheaper plan, however,
and one that would answer all purposes, would be
to rest the turn-table Of the draw on the south
the south abutment and thenext adjoiningpier. The
water Is over twenty feet deep through this span.
PROPOSED IRON BRIDGE.
To build an iron bridge on the present piers
with iron trestle approaches at each end, q
through truss span across the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal and draw on oh the Virginia SIDE he
The money available for the work IS not sufficient,
however, to carry out this plan. II any Ornamen-
of each pier would be necessary and the cost
would be greatly increased, though no other ad-
vantage would be gained.
omitted and an earthern enbankment be SUBJ
st1uted for the iron treste approach at the south
end, the work can be done for sos, 900. The
question is shall the money be expended in recon-
structing the bridge in this way With little out
lay as Practicable or shall the present structure
be opened to public travel?
plated by Congress when the appropriation was
made, SO that there would be no just reason for
Ss arah sseod be
vided and make an appropriation therefor, such a
change IN the plans would not cause any appre-
ciable delay in reconstruction.
THE PRESENT BRIDGE UNSAFE.
The present structure is in an unsafe condition.
it safe for public travel would require an expendi-
ture Of not less than about "a, 500 The estimate
OF $105, 600 is close one, ana the expenditure OF
S450O In temporary repairs might render it neces-
Sary to delay reconstruction until an additional
appropriation could De made. II none should be
made by March 4th "a contingency not imprOba-
bic there would be no adequate means a to recon
strlct the bridge in iron, except by reducing its
dimensions, q most undesirable alternative.
NEW BRIDGE NECESSITY.
s'The reconstruction of the bridge is necessity.
The interests OF the public demand that 1t be done
at the earliest practicable day. 1 therefore rec
ommend that L be authorized to have the present
wooden structure removed and to have new iron
one built In its place; the roadway to be twenty
four feet wide and to have two sidewalks OF six
d1 each the approach ass south end 70 be an
walks OF the same widtns as the bridge; the APP
proach at the north end to be by through iron
16O feet and of iron trestles la7 feet. 1t is be-
lieved that this can be done with the money now
available II the prices OF materials and
to do the work by contract, after ad-
yers:sing @ for proposals in In the US usual way
to go TO the contractor 1t is desirable, as before
remarked, that the bridge be provided with a
draw, that the piers be repOinted and repaired
where necessary and that the south approach be
built OF iron trestles To efrect these changes it
will be necessary to have an additional apprOpria-
tion of $4,000 and an annual appropriation OF
$500 for the four bridge men to manipulate the
draw. The question or making these additional
appropriations can be left to Congress- and should
It see ut TO make them before the 4th OF March,
1887, 1t Will not materially retard the work."
BOARD OF ENGINEERS RECOMMENDED.
The chief OF engineers in submitting the report